You know your ABCs of the alphabet, but do you know your ABCDE’s of Melanoma? Heading into spring with summer on its way, it is important to be vigilant about your skin and prepare for several months of sun safety. As you examine your skin, at least once a month, be on the lookout for the warning signs of skin cancer, the ABCDEs of Melanoma.
A – Asymmetry
Skin spots that are symmetrical are usually benign moles, but the skin spots that are asymmetric are often Melanoma lesions.
B – Border Irregularity
Skin spots that have smooth, even borders are usually harmless moles, but the skin spots that irregular borders and borders that lack definition are often Melanoma lesions.
C – Color
Skin spots that are a single color are usually harmless moles, but skin spots that have more than one color or multiple colors can be Melanoma.
D – Diameter
Melanoma lesions are often larger than 6 millimeters in diameter. This is about the size of the non-writing end of a ball point pin.
E – Evolving
The evolution of your skin spot is one of the most important factors in diagnosing Melanoma. If your skin spot is growing in size or changing in color, you should immediately see your dermatologist.
Learn more about Skin Cancer
Learn more about skin cancer and protecting your skin from the Skin Cancer Foundation, an international organization devoted to education, prevention, early detection, and prompt treatment of skin cancer, the most common cancer in the world. We encourage you to visit some of the valuable articles that can be found on their website.